WARNING: This chapter is rated M for violence. ---------- The Sword God and the two celestial gods faced off. All of their injuries from their last battle had healed and they were ready for combat again. "I see you've recovered from your injuries, Ame no Murakumo," Chikane's voice came from Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. "You almost defeated me last time, Priestesses," said Ame no Murakumo, "but I assure you that I will be victorious in this fight." "You seem awfully confident for someone that was so exhausted after one battle that she could barely stand," Himeko's voice came from Amaterasu Oomikami. "Chikane and I came out of it with no more than a few scratches." "My powers have doubled since our last meeting," Ame no Murakumo said, the blades on her wrists slowly extending. "That's hard to believe after only three days," said Himeko, drawing the Solar Priestess Blade. "You're bluffing," Chikane said, drawing the Lunar Priestess Blade. Amaterasu Oomikami and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto extended the blades on their wrists as well, Himeko and Chikane saying in unison, "We dare you to demonstrate!" "So be it." Ame no Murakumo rushed at Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, and the celestial gods rushed at Ame no Murakumo as well. Blades clashed as the three mechs began round two. The last several days of concentrating on nothing else but their bond had definitely increased Himeko's and Chikane's powers. They were actually able to get several strikes off on Ame no Murakumo. However, it soon became apparent that Ame no Murakumo had grown stronger as well as the Priestesses also received minor cuts during the battle. "She's definitely gotten faster," Himeko said. "The faster the fight, the faster the fall," said Chikane. "If we wear her down enough, she won't be able to fight." Himeko nodded at Chikane's statement. As the gods fought, the blade on Amaterasu's left wrist started glowing violet and the blade on Tsukuyomi's right wrist started glowing blue. The blades still colliding frequently, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi fired brief but potent bolts of light from the tips of their blades. Because Ame no Murakumo used her blades to block the celestial gods' blades, she could not use them to block the bolts, and she was hit several times in her chest and abdomen. Ame no Murakumo growled as small dents formed on her front side. However, Himeko and Chikane could tell from the sound of her voice that the growl was more out of anger than out of physical pain. The bolts that they were firing at her were obviously more aggravating than damaging, much like the feeling of a mosquito buzzing around one's ear. Ame no Murakumo's irritation seemed to reach a peak and she yelled in anger. Ame no Murakumo jumped up and extended her legs, kicking at Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. Himeko and Chikane jumped back from Ame no Murakumo's kick. Himeko felt a stinging sensation in her right side and Chikane left a stinging in her left. Ame no Murakumo had managed to cut them with the blades on her feet. The blades on Amaterasu Oomikami's and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto's wrists opened up into bows and the celestial gods began firing arrows at Ame no Murakumo. The blades on Ame no Murakumo's wrists started spinning around, blocking the force of the explosions. Out of the hot gas and smoke produced from the explosions, Tsukuyomi no Mikoto flew at Ame no Murakumo, bringing its blade under the whirlwind of Ame no Murakumo's spinning blades and then upwards, leaving a cut in the Sword God's belly. Ame no Murakumo groaned in pain and spun around, hitting Tsukuyomi no Mikoto in the right side with her knee. Chikane felt the wind knocked out of her as she was knocked to the ground by the impact. Himeko continued her barrage of arrows, hitting Ame no Murakumo several times in the back, throwing her away several hundred meters. "Chikane," Himeko said, running to her girlfriend's side. Chikane staggered to her feet, coughing several times. "What she said was true," said Chikane. "Her powers have increased since our last battle." Chikane then clasped Himeko's left hand with her right and said, "But we won't let that stop us!" Himeko and Chikane called out in unison, "Divine Light of the Eclipse!" The fused arm of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi fired its white light at Ame no Murakumo, who fired a beam of yellow light from its wings. The two beams collided, creating a gigantic explosion, which blew the celestial gods and Ame no Murakumo nearly two kilometers away from each other. Each mech landing on its feet, they rushed straight back at each other, Ame no Murakumo clashing again with Amaterasu Oomikami and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto in a matter of seconds. Himeko grasped Chikane's left shoulder and Chikane grasped Himeko's right shoulder. "Celestial Spiral!" They both called out. Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi jumped at Ame no Murakumo, spinning around one another, a cyclone of blades flying at her from every which way. "Not again!" Ame no Murakumo proclaimed. A powerful blast of yellow light came from the spike on Ame no Murakumo's head, throwing Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi into the air, splitting them into their separate entities. The God of Swords then raised her arms into the air, hoping to impale Amaterasu Oomikami with her right blade and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto with her left blade. The celestial gods swung at Ame no Murakumo, their blades colliding with hers. They pushed themselves away, landing side-by-side in front of the Sword God. Himeko felt a burning sensation in her right hand and Chikane in her left. They looked at their hands to find that they had been burned by Ame no Murakumo's attack. A burn in the shape of the Solar Mark had appeared on Himeko's right hand and a burn in the shape of the Lunar Mark had appeared on Chikane's left hand. "Damn, that hurts!" Chikane exclaimed. "It's like what happened when I tried to pick up the Solar Priestess Blade last year," Himeko said. "You have gone against the God of Swordsmen," said Ame no Murakumo. "That is your punishment for not performing your rituals as you should!" Ame no Murakumo fired a purple beam from her mouth at the celestial gods, the beam wrapping around them and forming a net, immobilizing them. "You won't be able to fall over to avoid my attack this time!" exclaimed Ame no Murakumo. The red jewels on the ends of the spikes on her back started glowing and she fired another beam of yellow light at the Priestesses from the spike on her head. Himeko and Chikane stared at the beam coming at them, their eyes wide with fear. They held each other close and closed their eyes, ready to endure the final blow. However, as they held each other, the Solar Mark on Himeko's chest and the Lunar Mark on Chikane's back lit up brightly. A white light exploded from Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, blowing the glowing, purple net off of their bodies. The bows on their wrists started spinning, creating a mighty wind that held back the blast, deflecting the beam around their bodies. "Ha!" said Himeko. "We weren't hurt by that attack of yours at all." "That's the power that our love has," Chikane continued. "It's the power that will bring us victory!" "Is that so?" Ame no Murakumo asked. The rockets on her back fired, propelling her toward the Priestesses. Amaterasu Oomikami's and Tsukuyomi no Mikoto's bows closed back up into blades and the gods continued sword fighting. Ame no Murakumo continued, "Your love will not bring you victory, only pain!" Ame no Murakumo elbowed Amaterasu Oomikami in the chest, throwing Himeko to the ground. The wind was knocked from Himeko so quickly that she did not even have enough air in her lungs to cry out in pain. "Himeko!" Chikane cried at seeing her beloved in pain. With Chikane momentarily distracted, Ame no Murakumo rushed at Tsukuyomi no Mikoto, lashing at it with the blade on her left wrist. At the last minute, Chikane noticed Ame no Murakumo coming at her and blocked the blade with Tsukuyomi no Mikoto's. Ame no Murakumo pushed Tsukuyomi no Mikoto's blade out of the way with her left blade and swung at Tsukuyomi with her right. With Tsukuyomi's blade out of the way, there was nothing preventing Ame no Murakumo's right blade to slice through the Moon God's left arm, severing it from the shoulder. A deafening scream of agony split the air as Chikane experienced pain unlike any she had ever felt before. She fell to her knees and clutched her left shoulder where her arm had been severed. In that moment, the entire world disappeared and all that Chikane could feel was the throbbing, searing pain that was shooting through her body from the small, stubby remainder of her once-slender limb. ---------- It did not take long for Himeko to regain her breath and see with her own eyes just how serious Chikane's injury was. The blonde stared in shock, horrified by the sight of her beloved curled up on the ground, her left arm completely gone, an expression of the most agonizing torture on her face. "Do you see what your love brought you, Lunar Priestess?" Ame no Murakumo scoffed. "Your love for the Solar Priestess distracted you from the job at hand. And now you are experiencing the most intense pain a human can feel because of it." In a daze, Himeko walked slowly and unsteadily toward Chikane. "Chikane" she said, a glazed look in her eyes. She felt as if she was dreaming, as if the sight of her beloved Chikane being dismembered were nothing more than an illusion. It was only when she fell to her knees beside Chikane and touched her girlfriend's body that reality began to set in. The glazed look in her eyes slowly lifted and she was overcome by a terrible mix of surprise, shock, sorrow, and horror. "CHIKANE!!!" she cried as she fully comprehended severity of the situation. "It is no use to keep fighting, Priestesses," Ame no Murakumo continued her heartless derogation. "You, Lunar Priestess, will be unable to fight through the pain. And you, Solar Priestess, will undoubtedly perish without the Lunar Priestess fighting alongside you." "Himeko" Chikane managed to choke out. "Chikane," Himeko sobbed. Through her tears, Himeko's expression took on an element of hatred. She stood up and clutched the Solar Priestess Blade tightly. "Now you've done it," she said. "You've hurt Chikane. I won't let you get away with this abomination." Himeko's voice slowly rose in volume and vehemence. "I cannot tolerate someone that would hurt my beloved Chikane this way!" Himeko turned toward Ame no Murakumo and looked straight through her, the Solar Mark glowing brightly on her chest, her violet eyes burning with anger and determination. "Ame no Murakumo," she cried, "YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO CHIKANE!!!" Amaterasu Oomikami's violet eyes lit up with the same fire that was in Himeko's and the God of the Sun charged at Ame no Murakumo. Ame no Murakumo took a stance, ready to counter Himeko's attack. However, Himeko's anger had multiplied her strength, making her other self stronger and faster than before. Amaterasu's blade moved at incredible speed, swinging at Ame no Murakumo ten times a second. Himeko continuously switched between her sword and her bow and arrows, not giving Ame no Murakumo enough time to anticipate Amaterasu's next attack. 'This power' Ame no Murakumo thought. 'How can a mere human have this kind of strength?' "Himeko" Chikane murmured at watching the short girl fighting her heart out in front of her. The sight was so amazing that Chikane almost forgot the pain from her severed arm. Himeko cried out as she summoned all of the strength that she could muster. She lunged at Ame no Murakumo, knocking the Sword God onto her back. Amaterasu Oomikami straddled Ame no Murakumo, swinging its blade at her over and over and over again. Himeko was relentless in her attacks, giving Ame no Murakumo barely enough time to block her strikes. Then, Ame no Murakumo fired the rockets on her back, propelling herself and Amaterasu Oomikami off the ground. The force pushed Amaterasu Oomikami off of Ame no Murakumo, knocking the Sun God down. Ame no Murakumo raised her blades and swung at Amaterasu. A purple blur flew in front of Himeko and blocked Ame no Murakumo's attack. Himeko looked up and was surprised to find that the one that had protected her was Chikane! She was standing over Himeko, holding off Ame no Murakumo with only her right arm, clutching the Lunar Priestess Blade with all her might. "Lunar Priestess," said Ame no Murakumo. "You still have some fight left." "Himeko risked her life for my sake," said Chikane. "And now I shall return the favor!" "What can you hope to accomplish in your condition?" Ame no Murakumo pressed more of her weight against Tsukuyomi no Mikoto and Chikane pressed back with equal force. Himeko looked at Chikane's wound and saw blood gushing from it as she struggled to push Ame no Murakumo away. "Chikane, stop," Himeko said. "The more you fight, the more blood you'll lose. At this rate" "I am not going to stand by and watch while you're killed on my account," Chikane said. She turned back to the God of Swordsmen and said, "You were wrong about one thing, Ame no Murakumo. The physical pain that you've inflicted on me is not even close to the most intense pain a human can feel. It would be infinitely worse to separate me from Himeko again. Even through the pain that I feel right now, as long as I can keep her by my side" Chikane summoned up the rest of her strength and exclaimed, "I will!" Chikane pushed Ame no Murakumo off of her body with the strength of her single arm and attacked Ame no Murakumo with blinding speed. There was a bright, blue light and the sound of metal slicing through metal was heard. Ame no Murakumo roared in pain and staggered backward, glowing, white blood dripping from her left shoulder, from which her arm had disappeared. With Ame no Murakumo presently dazed, Chikane looked at the girl sitting below her and asked, "Himeko, are you all right?" "Uh-huh," Himeko nodded. Still holding the Lunar Priestess Blade in her right hand, Chikane held out her other hand to help Himeko up. Himeko grabbed Chikane's hand and Chikane helped her to her feet. It was only then that Himeko realized that something didn't add up. "Chikane," she said, "your arm" Chikane then realized that she had helped Himeko to her feet with her left arm. She looked to find that her arm had been completely restored! She moved her fingers to find that she still had perfect motor control of the limb. Tsukuyomi no Mikoto had a completely new left arm, a silvery white color with a large blade attached to its wrist. Tsukuyomi had taken Ame no Murakumo's arm and was now using it as its own, and Chikane's arm had been rebuilt in the process! "You've lost, Ame no Murakumo!" exclaimed Himeko. "Accept it!" "I've stolen your arm and the blade that was attached to it!" said Chikane. Tsukuyomi no Mikoto extended the blade that was on its new left wrist and crossed its blades in front of it, striking a pose. "It doesn't matter how many limbs you sever from my body; I'll just repair them with your limbs! There's no way that you can win now!" Then, Ame no Murakumo started laughing hysterically. "You think you have it all worked out, don't you, Priestesses? But there is still one thing that you have failed to take into account." Ame no Murakumo's eyes started changing from their original shade of green to a deep red color. The Solar and Lunar Marks lit up as Chikane and Himeko both sensed the presence of a powerful evil spirit. On the surface of the moon, the Lunar Shrine started glowing purple. As the glow increased in intensity, the Shrine shattered and the dark, swirling aura of Orochi escaped. As the dark aura descended toward Earth, Orochi's United Body, Gattai Orochi, materialized around it. "Oh no," said Chikane. "Ame no Murakumo was one of the followers of Orochi. That means that if she isn't locked away, then Orochi would still gain strength from her and manage to free himself from the Lunar Shrine." Then, much to Himeko and Chikane's surprise, Ame no Murakumo transformed back into its sword shape. "What's happening now?" Himeko wondered. Gattai Orochi reached with its tail for the hilt of the sword that was Ame no Murakumo. When the two pincers at the end of Orochi's tail clamped down on the hilt, Ame no Murakumo's body was drawn into the tail and became the tip of the tail! Then, Gattai Orochi's yellow eyes turned the same shade of red as Ame no Murakumo's eyes. All of the eyes that existed on all of the faces on Gattai Orochi's body became red as winter cherries. When that happened, large cracks started forming on Gattai Orochi's head portion. The head portion also seemed to increase in size, as if something was trying to push its way through. Then, the head portion completely cracked open, and the red eyes were revealed to belong to the head of a snake, which had hatched from Gattai Orochi's head portion. The rest of Gattai Orochi's hull started cracking. Other snake heads started hatching from Gattai Orochi's body, each with eyes just as red as the eyes of the first snake that had hatched. One head hatched from Gattai Orochi's hip portion, another head from Orochi's legs, another head from its back, another from its arms, another from its stomach, another from its chest, and another from its wing, bringing the total to eight. Then, the entire body of Gattai Orochi shattered and all of the heads were revealed to be those of a giant, eight-headed serpent. The creature was large enough to cover eight valleys and eight hills, its belly was bloody and inflamed, and its back was covered with club moss, Japanese cypress, and Japanese cedar. Himeko and Chikane stared in horror at the monster towering over the land. "Chikane" Himeko choked, "what is that thing?" "This is Orochi's true form," Chikane realized. "The form that Orochi had before he was slain by Susanou during the time of the gods. This is Orochi in all of his former glory, Yamata no Orochi." To be continued... ---------- OMAKE: Through her tears, Himeko's expression took on an element of hatred. She stood up and clutched the Solar Priestess Blade tightly. "Now you've done it," she said. "You've made me angry. You won't like me when I'm angry"
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